Coast Guard suspends search for missing teen in Potomac River

BALTIMORE — The Coast Guard has suspended its search Thursday for a missing teenager near Mount Vernon, Virginia.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Baltimore received a call on VHF marine radio channel 16 at approximately 8:30 p.m. Wednesday from a Fairfax County Fire department boat crew member stating they lost sight of a teenager while responding to a call of the swimmer having trouble.

A crew aboard a 29-foot Response Boat – Small from Coast Guard Station Washington launched at 8:35 p.m. Wednesday to assist with the search.

An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey, arrived on scene and conducted a search Thursday.

The Coast Guard searched a 65 square nautical mile area for the missing teen.

“After more than 38 hours of cumulative search efforts by the Coast Guard and our partner agencies, the Coast Guard made the difficult decision to suspend the search,” said Lt. Erin Slycord, command center chief at Coast Guard Sector Baltimore. “This decision is never an easy one, and our thoughts are with the families of the missing teen.”